The Classics Club: Persuasion

I read Persuasion by Jane Austen as a teenager, and I must admit nothing stayed from that lecture. I was aware of the film versions of Persuasion (I'm especially fond of the Ciaran Hinds version), so when the first Unputdownables readalong of the year suggested this book, I was favourably inclined to read it - this time as an adult.

The story, a classic girl meets boy, girl loses boy, girl meets boy again and, after some trouble, they all live happily in the end, was sufficiently dusted with social criticism and well developped second characters, as to avoid being just another romantic work of literature...

First of all, I appreciated a heroine being "out of bloom" (that's 27 for you!). Austen acknowledges that there are people in society who will not fall in love, marry and live in peace by the time they're 18. There are missed opportunities and there are regrets that will leave people stranded, moving on in life as respectfully as possible.

The Classics Club: Emma

To be honest, if it hadn't been for Adam's Austen in August event, I probably wouldn't have read Emma by Jane Austen, preferring to read other titles for the Classics Club (I am more of the Brontë type...). The reason?  I haven't read Austen (with the exception of Mansfield Park, which I didn't like).  But, I have seen all the films that have been made about her books (some in several versions). 
The problem here is, these films are so romantic that to my mind Austen is a romance novelist, writing about pretty girls going around the world, getting into trouble, but in the end finding happiness with their perfect little husband-saviour ... ugh! (Apologies to Alex, an avid Austen fan).

The Classics Club: Lady Susan

(some spoilers included)

One of the earlier works by Jane Austen, Lady Susan is a novel that really changed my opinion of its author.  While I would regard Austen as a romantic writer in general (I am more into the misery of the Brontës' style of writing), I found Lady Susan really showcases Austen's sarcastic and sometimes mean description of the noble class. It is a treat for anyone enjoying the witty world of the "comme il faut" society and all the true work that goes on behind the scenes...